Charge against dad who defended son dropped

Thursday

A Taunton District Court judge has dismissed an assault charge against a father accused of punching an alleged child predator in a Raynham supermarket bathroom.

A Taunton District Court judge has dismissed an assault charge against a father accused of punching an alleged child predator in a Raynham supermarket bathroom.

It is unlikely Jason R. Beatrice, 31, of Raynham will face a reduced battery charge in connection with the June 1 incident because his alleged victim fled the country before his arraignment for indecently assaulting Beatrice’s 4-year-old son, Gregg Miliotte, spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney’s office, said.

“You can’t really try a case without a victim. We reserve the right to, but I doubt it,” Miliotte said after the charges against Beatrice were dropped on July 31.

A default warrant was issued for Valerio Rodriguez, 71, of Providence, R.I. after he missed his July 29 arraignment.

Authorities believe Rodriguez is in Guatemala,

“He told his family members he is not coming back,” Miliotte said.

The arrest warrant will remain active forever, he added.

Beatrice was accused of assaulting the older man, a Market Basket janitor, after he allegedly groped the youngster from under a stall in the supermarket bathroom.

Through a Spanish interpreter, Rodriguez admitted he was wrong for touching the boy but said he was “only fooling around,” according to a police report.

Raynham Police Chief Lou Pacheco said both parties had been summonsed on the charges rather than arrested because neither had criminal records nor warrants and posed no apparent threat to the public.

He said he was shocked Rodriguez had missed his court appearance.

Raynham Call

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